Surface functionalization of fibers is one of powerful meanings for improvement of textile performances. In this review, two atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJ), plasma oxidation with nitrogen gas and plasma-induced polymer coating with hexamethyldisiloxane, are utilized for the surface functionalization of synthetic fibers, poly (ethylene terephthalate), PET. The PET film with a geometrical simplicity and natural fiber, wool, are also used as materials. The topographical and chemical changes due to the plasma–PET surface interaction are clearly observed after the APPJ treatments. The APPJ oxidation roughens the PET surface as well as increases the surface atomic oxygen concentration, which makes it hydrophilic. However, remarkable hydrophobization is achieved after the APPJ coating as a result of the deposition of inorganic SiO₂ films and the granular morphology formation on the PET surface. The APPJ oxidation after the APPJ coating makes the PET surface super-hydrophilic. Surprisingly, the APPJ-coated PET surfaces with and without the APPJ oxidation have no contact angle hysteresis and preserve the contact angle to remain almost constant for at least two weeks. With respect to textile performance, the antifouling property of the PET fabric is found to be controlled by the APPJ treatments: soil deposition in air is prevented after the APPJ coating and soil release by laundering is promoted by the APPJ oxidation to the pristine and the APPJ-coated PET fabrics. Water wicking into the PET and wool fabrics is remarkably promoted by the APPJ oxidation. The dyeability of the PET fabric by dispersive dyes is improved by the APPJ oxidation before dyeing. For the wool fabric, color deepening after ink-jet dyeing is significantly increased due to pretreatment by the APPJ oxidation compared with the chemical treatment.

Freestanding compliant micropost arrays were fabricated on a glass surface by two-photon-initiated polymerization of polyacrylamide gels. Subcellular force exerted on each post was evaluated from the independent displacement of the post. The elasticity of the gel (57 kPa) was designed to be as compliant as biological tissues. We tried this array to reproduce the in situ behavior of L6 rat myoblasts. Cells stayed still extending pseudopodia exerting traction force. When the expression of one of the molecular chaperones, αB-crystallin was knocked down, the cells kept wandering showing round-shaped contours confirming the significance of αB-crystallin in maintaining subcellular attachment to extracellular matrix. We consider the micropost arrays suitable for subcellular analyses of mechanical behavior at in situ-relevant conditions.

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of balance between bobbin weight and counter weight on the appearance and mechanical characteristics of the braid. The thickness of the braid showed thinnest when the counter weight mass was 40% of the total masses of bobbins and became thicker as the balance was lost, and the braiding angle of the braid became sharper when the counter weight mass became larger than 40%.
Regarding the bending characteristics, the amount of deflection of the braid increased as the weight balance increased, and the braid became softer. Regarding the tensile properties, the elongation under a 100 N tensile load tended to decrease and the elongation elastic modulus increased as the weight balance increased. It became clear that these mechanical properties had close relationships with the axial crimp as well as the thickness and the braiding angle of the braid.
During the production of the braid, a horizontal force due to the weight bobbins and a vertical downward force due to the counter weight that forms the length are applied and tightened. Since the thickness of the sample formed with a weight balance of 40% showed thinnest and was an intermediate value for the other measurement values, a horizontal force by the weight bobbins and a vertical force by the counter weight affects the structure of the braid, and when this balance of forces was optimal, compaction of the braid and length formation became efficient and a thin and uniform braid was formed. The empirical knowledge of the conventional skilled craftsmen that the weight balance at the time of braiding should be approx. 40% was confirmed.

Poly[N-(2-Hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] (PHPMA) shows excellent biocompatibility and thus is expected to be used as a carrier in a drug delivery system. In this study, we investigated how the difference in the monomer structure influences the sequence in copolymers composed of HPMA and monomers (MA-ahNHNH-Boc and MA-NHNH-Boc); the size of MA-ah-NHNH-Boc is larger than that of MA-NHNH-Boc by the alkyl chain (CH₂)₅ spacer. Because the obtained copolymers showed a phase separation behavior upon heating,we also investigated this phase separation behavior by turbidimetry and the molecular dimension in dilute aqueous solution by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Consequently, we found that the difference between the monomers (MA-ah-NHNH-Boc or MA-NHNH-Boc) significantly influences the monomer sequence in copolymer chains, the cloud point temperature, and the chain dimension in aqueous solution.